The Union ministry of environment has been severely criticised by the Supreme Court for seeking five more years to clean up the river Yamuna. The ministry has been asked to file a statement furnishing details on the steps taken to clean up the river. The ministry has requested the Supreme Court to extend the deadline till the year 2005. A public interest litigation (pil) in this regard was filed more than eight years ago. The pil had urged the court to direct the government to ensure that a minimum flow of water is maintained so that the Yamuna could cleanse itself.